Chapter 10, Fairbanks
Alaska State Troopers had a difficult time identifying Chris McCandless’s body. However, when the story ran in the paper, Jim Gallien was certain it was “Alex.” Gallien called police and described Alex; police finally believed Gallien when they saw his name in Chris’s journal. Soon after, Wayne Westerberg heard radio talk-show host Paul Harvey discussing a kid who starved to death in Alaska. Westerberg called Alaska State Troopers to tell them what he knew about Alex. However, police were having difficulty figuring out who had actually known the dead hiker, since they received over 150 calls from people claiming to be a friend or family member. Yet Westerberg insisted he knew the hiker and could provide his Social Security number (from a W-4 form). With this information, police were able to contact Chris’s brother, Sam, in Virginia.
Chapter 11, Chesapeake Beach
the author visits with Chris’s parents, Walt and Billie. Walt and Billie have since moved to the Maryland shore because of Walt's job, working as a private consultant for organizations such as NASA. Also we meet Loren Johnson which is Billie's dad. Chris and him immediately connect. Walt and Chris went on multiple backpacking trips and Walt described Chris as being naturally talented. He played the french horn and he became the captain of the cross-country team. Krakauer recounts Walt’s life, including his first marriage to Marcia.
Chapter 12, Annandale Chapter 12 opens with a quote from Thoreau's Walden about the insincerity of riches. This passage was found highlighted in Chris's personal effects.
When Chris graduates high school, he presents his father with a birthday present of a very expensive telescope. On this occasion Chris makes a tearful and emotional speech about his gratitude and respect for his father despite their differences. After this, Chris leaves on his first solo adventure. Walt and Billie don't argue with Chris about taking the trip, but give him a Texaco credit card and ask him to call home every three days. Initially Chris honors this agreement, calling home from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and the Pacif Coast. The phone calls come slower and Chris is not heard from again until he arrives home two days before he is suppose to be back at college. Also Krakauer writes that Chris found out the facts of his father's first marriage, they didn't split up peacefully. A couple of years after Billie gave birth to Chris Walt continued his relationship with Marcia and Walt fathered a child with Marcia. Eventually the divorce was ligallized and his marriage to Billie became legallized. Later on in the chapter we find out the pain that Billie went through when Chris had left for good. She never left the house without leaving a letter for Chris and everytime she thought she saw a hitchhiker that looked like Chris she would turn around and pull over.
Chapter 13, Virginia Beach Chapter 13 begins with a quotation from John Haines about the link between physical exploration and the exploration of the mind. Carine McCandless's home in Virginia Beach displays two prominent photographs of her brother, Chris. One is taken when he is seven, the other when he is seventeen. He wears the same annoyed expression in both photographs. Carine's elderly dog, Buck, sleeps at her feet, as she recalls how Chris loved Buck. She and her parents regret not allowing Chris to take Buck with him on his travels. Perhaps, if he'd had the dog, Chris would not have taken so many risks. Carine, like Chris, is a high-achiever with a ready opinion, but unlike her brother, Carine has made peace with her parents. Chapter 14, The Stikine Ice Cap Krakauer addresses the McCandless's final postcard to Wayne Westerberg. The postcard has caused many people to believe McCandless intended to die in Alaska, but Krakauer believes his death was an unplanned accident. His insight into McCandless's intentions stems from his own youthful experiences. Krakauer describes his younger self as reckless, moody, stubborn and self-centered. Krakauer had a difficult relationship with his father, and he often vacillated between a desire to please his father and a contrasting desire to rebel against him. Krakauer developed an obsession with mountain climbing that lasted a decade. His free hours were devoted to planning and dreaming of new climbing challenges. Krakauer decided when he was about 23 that he decided that he wanted to climb Devils Thumb which in in Alaska. The mountain is very trecherous and has a lot of crevases. The bottom starts at a glacier, but he is prepared somewhat. He brings a 10 foot rod in case he falls into a crevase but unfortunately much of the crevases are about 40 feet wide. Also, he paid a pilot to bring him food. He started ice picking up the mountain but then once he reached rock and was about 3,700 feet about ground he decided to descend instead of risking his life.
Alaska State Troopers had a difficult time identifying Chris McCandless’s body. However, when the story ran in the paper, Jim Gallien was certain it was “Alex.” Gallien called police and described Alex; police finally believed Gallien when they saw his name in Chris’s journal. Soon after, Wayne Westerberg heard radio talk-show host Paul Harvey discussing a kid who starved to death in Alaska. Westerberg called Alaska State Troopers to tell them what he knew about Alex. However, police were having difficulty figuring out who had actually known the dead hiker, since they received over 150 calls from people claiming to be a friend or family member. Yet Westerberg insisted he knew the hiker and could provide his Social Security number (from a W-4 form). With this information, police were able to contact Chris’s brother, Sam, in Virginia.
Chapter 11, Chesapeake Beach
the author visits with Chris’s parents, Walt and Billie. Walt and Billie have since moved to the Maryland shore because of Walt's job, working as a private consultant for organizations such as NASA. Also we meet Loren Johnson which is Billie's dad. Chris and him immediately connect. Walt and Chris went on multiple backpacking trips and Walt described Chris as being naturally talented. He played the french horn and he became the captain of the cross-country team. Krakauer recounts Walt’s life, including his first marriage to Marcia.
Chapter 12, Annandale
Chapter 12 opens with a quote from Thoreau's Walden about the insincerity of riches. This passage was found highlighted in Chris's personal effects.
When Chris graduates high school, he presents his father with a birthday present of a very expensive telescope. On this occasion Chris makes a tearful and emotional speech about his gratitude and respect for his father despite their differences. After this, Chris leaves on his first solo adventure. Walt and Billie don't argue with Chris about taking the trip, but give him a Texaco credit card and ask him to call home every three days. Initially Chris honors this agreement, calling home from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and the Pacif Coast. The phone calls come slower and Chris is not heard from again until he arrives home two days before he is suppose to be back at college. Also Krakauer writes that Chris found out the facts of his father's first marriage, they didn't split up peacefully. A couple of years after Billie gave birth to Chris Walt continued his relationship with Marcia and Walt fathered a child with Marcia. Eventually the divorce was ligallized and his marriage to Billie became legallized. Later on in the chapter we find out the pain that Billie went through when Chris had left for good. She never left the house without leaving a letter for Chris and everytime she thought she saw a hitchhiker that looked like Chris she would turn around and pull over.
Chapter 13, Virginia Beach
Chapter 13 begins with a quotation from John Haines about the link between physical exploration and the exploration of the mind. Carine McCandless's home in Virginia Beach displays two prominent photographs of her brother, Chris. One is taken when he is seven, the other when he is seventeen. He wears the same annoyed expression in both photographs. Carine's elderly dog, Buck, sleeps at her feet, as she recalls how Chris loved Buck. She and her parents regret not allowing Chris to take Buck with him on his travels. Perhaps, if he'd had the dog, Chris would not have taken so many risks. Carine, like Chris, is a high-achiever with a ready opinion, but unlike her brother, Carine has made peace with her parents.
Chapter 14, The Stikine Ice Cap
Krakauer addresses the McCandless's final postcard to Wayne Westerberg. The postcard has caused many people to believe McCandless intended to die in Alaska, but Krakauer believes his death was an unplanned accident. His insight into McCandless's intentions stems from his own youthful experiences. Krakauer describes his younger self as reckless, moody, stubborn and self-centered. Krakauer had a difficult relationship with his father, and he often vacillated between a desire to please his father and a contrasting desire to rebel against him. Krakauer developed an obsession with mountain climbing that lasted a decade. His free hours were devoted to planning and dreaming of new climbing challenges. Krakauer decided when he was about 23 that he decided that he wanted to climb Devils Thumb which in in Alaska. The mountain is very trecherous and has a lot of crevases. The bottom starts at a glacier, but he is prepared somewhat. He brings a 10 foot rod in case he falls into a crevase but unfortunately much of the crevases are about 40 feet wide. Also, he paid a pilot to bring him food. He started ice picking up the mountain but then once he reached rock and was about 3,700 feet about ground he decided to descend instead of risking his life.